Grob G 120
| Grob G 120 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lufthansa Grob G 120A at the Lufthansa Airline Training Center Arizona | |
| Role | Trainer |
| National origin | Germany |
| Manufacturer | Grob Aircraft |
| First flight | 1999 |
| Status | Active in production |
| Primary users | Mexican Air Force Kenya Air Force Israeli Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force French Air Force |
| Produced | 1999-present |
| Developed from | Grob G 115 |
| Variants | Grob G 120TP |
The Grob G 120 is a two seated training and aerobatic low-wing aircraft with a carbon composite airframe, built by Grob Aircraft. It is based on the Grob G 115TA training aircraft and is specially designed for military and civil pilots training. It has a tricycle landing gear and a low tailplane.
Design and development
The airframe is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and is stressed to +6/-4g. Its minimum service life is just over 15,000 flight hours.[citation needed]
The cockpit provides room for students wearing military equipment and helmets. The plane is equipped with movable seats and rudder pedals and an air conditioning system. A second thrust lever is available.[citation needed]
Variants
- G 120A
- Piston powered version with a Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 six cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled piston aircraft engine producing 260 hp (194 kW).[1]
- G 120TP
- Turboprop powered version with a Rolls Royce 250-B17F aircraft engine producing 456 shp (340 kW) for take-off.[2] The Indonesian Air Force signed a contract for about 18 G 120TP trainers in the elementary and basic flying training roles in September 2011 at a cost of approx US$4 million each.[3] The Argentine Air Force bought 10 examples, and has received 4 as of July 2014.[4]
Operators
Argentina- Argentine air force 4, 10 on order
Canada- KF Defence Programs: 13 [5] for training of Canadian Armed Forces (until 2013) and Royal Canadian Air Force (from 2013) pilots.[6]
France- French Air Force[6]
Israel- Israeli Air Force[6]
Kenya- Kenyan Air Force 6[citation needed]
Mexico- Mexican Air Force: 25 (+15 option)[7][8]
Specifications (G 120A)
Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 8.605 m (28 ft 3 in)
- Wingspan: 10.19 m (33 ft 5 in)
- Height: 2.57 m (8 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 13.29 m2 (143.1 sq ft)
- Airfoil: Eppler E884
- Empty weight: 960 kg (2,116 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,440 kg (3,175 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 1,490 kg (3,285 lb) (Utility)[10]
- Fuel capacity: 256 litres (56 imp gal; 68 US gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming AEIO-540-D4D5 air-cooled flat-six, 190 kW (260 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed Hartzell HC-C3YR-1RF/F7663R, 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) diameter [10]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 319 km/h (198 mph, 172 kn)
- Cruise speed: 307 km/h (191 mph, 166 kn) at 75% power (1,500 m (5,000 ft))
- Stall speed: 102 km/h (63 mph, 55 kn) with full flaps
- Never exceed speed: 435 km/h (270 mph, 235 kn)
- Range: 1,540 km (960 mi, 830 nmi) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m) and 45% power)
- Endurance: 6.35 hours at 10,000 ft and maximum endurance power setting[10]
- Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,000 ft)
- g limits: +6/-4G
- Rate of climb: 6.5 m/s (1,280 ft/min)
Avionics
- Garmin avionics
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Aermacchi SF.260
- Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
- ENAER T-35 Pillán
- Fuji T-3
- Lasta 95
- PAC CT/4 Airtrainer
- Socata TB-31 Omega
References
- ^ Grob Aircraft (n.d.). "The basic training aircraft success story". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ^ Grob Aircraft (n.d.). "G 120 TP – The intelligent training solution of the 21st century". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- ^ "Indonesian win launches Grob's G120TP". FlightGlobal. 2011-09-19. Retrieved 2012-04-01.
- ^ Diego Gonzalez, Buenos Aires - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly (2013-07-08). "Argentina receives new training aircraft, announces Pampa III - IHS Jane's 360". Janes.com. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
- ^ Transport Canada listing of aircraft owned by "Allied Wings"
- ^ a b c "Customers Worldwide". Grob Aircraft, Retrieved 1 September 2012.
- ^ Mexico selects Grob trainer. Inigo Guevara, Washington, DC - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. 24 July 2014
- ^ EXCLUSIVA: La Fuerza Aérea Mexicana compra 25 aeronaves turbohélice Grob G120TP.
- ^ Jackson 2003, pp. 166–167.
- ^ a b c Grob Aircraft (n.d.). "Grob 120A Technical Specifications". Retrieved 20 March 2012.
- Grob G 115,120 and 140 Information brochure and Technical Datasheet (Grob Aerospace Sales Department, 2004)
- Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grob G120.